As 2025 draws to a close, Week 5 of the Rookie Rankings features a Top 10 that is largely unchanged from Week 4. But there is one small shift worth noting as the series wraps up.

The first nine rankings remain the same, with Ted Noffey leading the way. By virtue of his three Grade 1 wins in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA, Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, and Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes, he’s virtually certain to be voted champion 2-year-old male of 2025, and he’s hands-down our top-ranked contender for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

But at the bottom of the rankings, we’ve made a change. Upon further reflection, we’ve replaced Japan’s Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun winner Pyromancer (#10 during Week 4) with Golden Tempo, a flashy debut winner at Fair Grounds on Dec. 20.

At first glance, Golden Tempo seemed an unlikely candidate to win first-time out in a six-furlong maiden special weight race. His sire is two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, an elite performer over classic distances who has sired a bevy of Grade 1 winners racing 1 1/8 miles and farther. Furthermore, Golden Tempo’s dam is Carrumba, winner of the 1 1/8-mile, Grade 3 Top Flight Invitational Handicap and a daughter of Bernardini, the 2006 champion 3-year-old male who won the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, Grade 1 Travers Stakes, and Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup over classic distances.

Any way you slice it, Golden Tempo is bred to thrive racing 1 1/8 miles or farther. He’s also bred to peak at age 3 and beyond, not as a 2-year-old.

Nevertheless, Golden Tempo won his debut at with a tremendous performance. He failed to show any early speed, dropping back to last place by more than nine lengths. He was still in last place by seven lengths with only a quarter-mile left to run. Victory appeared impossible, but by blazing his final quarter-mile in :23.67, Golden Tempo roared past nine rivals to win by 1 ½ lengths in 1:10.66.

Golden Tempo’s fast finish agrees with his pedigree and suggests he’ll improve substantially over longer distances. He’s an exciting candidate for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, hence his inclusion in the final Rookie Rankings.

Here’s how the final Top 10 shape up:

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1. Ted Noffey: This colt has already beaten graded stakes winners Litmus Test, Brant, Intrepido, and Spice Runner. That’s an impressive record.

Owner: Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Last Race: 1^st, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA, Oct. 31 at Del Mar

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2. Paladin: After winning the Remsen Stakes, Paladin shipped from New York to Florida, where he worked half a mile in :50.80 Dec. 28.

Owners: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith, and Summer Wind Equine

Trainer: Chad Brown

Last Race: 1^st, Remsen Stakes, Dec. 6 at Aqueduct

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3. Further Ado: Further Ado seeks to become the first son of Gun Runner to win the Kentucky Derby. Sierra Leone, sired by Gun Runner, finished second by a nose in the 2024 Derby.

Owner: Spendthrift Farm

Trainer: Brad Cox

Last Race: 1^st, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs

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4. Satono Voyage: If Satono Voyage starts in the Kentucky Derby, he’ll be only the second Cattleya Stakes alumnus to do so, following Lani 10 years ago.

Owner: Hajime Satomi

Trainer: Hiroyasu Tanaka

Last Race: 1^st, Cattleya Stakes, Nov. 29 at Tokyo Racecourse

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5. Blackout Time: Although Blackout Time hasn’t posted a timed workout in over two months, trainer Kenny McPeek confirmed in a recent post on X that the Kentucky Derby remains the target.

Owners: Brookdale Racing, Lance Gasaway, and Magdalena Racing

Trainer: Kenny McPeek

Last Race: 2^nd, Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, Oct. 4 at Keeneland Race Course

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6. Litmus Test: Litmus Test is improving with every race, so even with four graded stakes starts under his belt, he still has upside for greater achievements in 2026.

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Last Race: 1^st, Los Alamitos Futurity, Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos Race Course

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7. Napoleon Solo: Napoleon Solo is known for his abundant speed, but can he stay 1 ¼ miles in the Kentucky Derby? His sire (Liam’s Map), dam (Atomic Blonde), and dam sire (Scat Daddy) all achieved their biggest wins racing 1 1/8 miles or less.

Owner: Gold Square

Trainer: Chad Summers

Last Race: 1^st, Champagne Stakes, Oct. 4 at Belmont at the Big A

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8. Cannoneer: Cannoneer recently shipped from Kentucky to Florida, where he worked half a mile in 50 seconds Dec. 24 at Payson Park Training Center.

Owners: St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables

Trainer: Brad Cox

Last Race: 1^st, maiden special weight, Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs

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9. Iron Honor: Iron Honor is one of several talented Kentucky Derby candidates trained by Chad Brown, who has saddled a trio of top-three finishers in the run for the roses.

Owners: St. Elias Stable, William Lawrence, and Cathi Glassman

Trainer: Chad Brown

Last Race: 1^st, maiden special weight, Dec. 13 at Aqueduct

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10. Golden Tempo: The sky is the limit for Golden Tempo as he matures and tries longer distances.

Owners: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Cherie DeVaux

Last Race: 1^st, maiden special weight, Dec. 20 at Fair Grounds